AtNew York Comic Con,Dune: Prophecyshowrunner Alison Schapker answers whether viewers need to watch theDunemovies before the television series.The upcoming miniseriestakes place 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides, predating Denis Villeneuve’s movies.Dune: Prophecyfeatures the leading castof Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Jade Anouka, and Aoife Hinds.
In an interview withColliderat NYCC, Schapker explained whether audiences needed to watchDuneandDune: Part Twobefore watchingProphecy. The showrunner stated that the seriesshould still be legible to those who have never read anyDunebooks or seen the movies, saying “you can come in through these characters and discover the world.” She did note that “Dune is so dense” and theProphecyteam still wanted to create “a rich, exciting, dense experience” for audiences familiar with the universe. Check out the full quote from Schapker below:
“Duneis so dense, it’s so well thought out, it’s so vivid, and it wouldn’t be Dune unless we embrace that aspect of it. It goes back to what the cast is saying, when you try and ground everything through character, I do believe it becomes more understandable. We really try to have multiple levels in the show, so if you’ve never seen the movies, or if you haven’t read the books, you’re able to come in through these characters and discover the world. But for those who have, we want to have a rich, exciting, dense experience. That was really a needle we tried to thread quite consciously.”
What This Means For Dune: Prophecy
Dune: ProphecyCould Expand Its Audience
This is good news forDune: Prophecy’s potential viewership prospects. While fans of theDunemovieswill be one major crowd attracted to the Max series, being an independent series will makeProphecymore successful to a wider audience.The prequel series is also not Villeneuve’s project, so it will be good to exist fairly independently of his films. Hismovies are well-regarded, so following up on those directly would only complicate the storytelling process.
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Shapker is right that the world ofDuneis incredibly rich, but that profundity also means that the world is extremely complex.The Bene Gesseritis one element of this intricate world of Arrakisand beyond. An origin story of this group will assist in breaking down one key entity of theDuneuniverse, as the sisterhood played a role in Paul’s ascension many millennia later. To “ground everything through character” in the story will also be a great way for the lore to expand without overwhelming the viewer.
Why This Is A Good Decision For Dune: Prophecy
DuneIs Complex Enough As It Is
While time will tell how successfully the show manages this independence, I think it’s wise to separate it from the movies. As it stands, there is a lot to keep track of plot-wise in theDunemovies. Expecting the viewer to have seen and absorbed all that high sci-fi content while still staying grounded in a prequel origin story may have been a big ask. Instead,Dune: Prophecycan help itself and themovies by being an accessible gateway into the franchise.
Dune: Prophecy
Cast
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
